Display tray



May 25, 1948. J. E. 'BOUCHARD DISPLAY TRAY File d Aug. 28, 1946 \NVENTOR JOSfPH Eye/9w BOUCHH/QD AOREY Patented May 25, I948 Application August 28, 1946, Serial .No. 693,529

In Canada July 30,1946

The present invention relates to -trays for displaying merchandise in stores, and particularly trays adapted for suspension from a movable support with freedom for movement relative "to said support about a horizontal suspension axis. The -suppor't may comprise a pair of chains running over wheels and supporting a number of suspended trays.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved tray adapted for the above mentioned use. A more "specific object of the invention is to provide a suspension tray with a counter-balance adjust-able to maintain the merchandise supporting platform of the trays in a horizontal position when the merchandise is so placed on the platform that the weight tends to tilt the platform out of a horizontal position. In a preferred form of the invention, the counter-balance is in the form of a bar beneath the tray platform and supported by flange portions of the tray structure which form guideways at opposed sides of the frame for the ends of the bar so that the latter may be adjusted in a horizontal direction transverse to the length of the bar. The merchandise supporting platform of the tray may consist of a panel formed of glass or other suitable material mounted on the flanges forming the upper walls of said guideways.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specific objects attained with its use. reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a detail section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view; and

Figure 5 is an elevation of an assembly of trays in moving display.

The tray construction illustrated in the drawings comprises a hollow or open frame I, ordinarily rectangular as shown, which may be formed of metal or other suitable material, and which is L-shaped in cross section. As is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the base flange portions of the L-shaped cross sections of each two opposed sides of the frame extend tnward'ly toward one another. Along t-wo oppo'sed sides of the tray,wh'ich may be regarded as the ends of the frame; are provided inwardly extending horizontal flanges "*3 spaced' siightly above and parallel to theba'se "Z for a purpose that will presently *be described. A sheet of 'glass or other material is laid upon the flanges- 3 to constitute the *bottom of the tray.

. the 'ends' of the frame,-and at the mitipoints'th'ereof; posts 6 *exten'd upwardly for 'suspension. The upper end of each post 6 is formed with a keyhole slot I for attachment to a headed member from which the tray is to be suspended.

When the tray is suspended, the bottom side thereof will not lie horizontal unless the load is suitably distributed on both sides of the longitudinal medial plane. Inasmuch as the display in most cases will not be so balanced, a counterbalance means is provided. This consists of a bar 8 having its ends slidably received beneath the flanges 3, as shown in Figure 4. The load is balanced merely by shifting the bar 8 in one direction or the other as indicated by the double arrow shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 5 is illustrated an example of a display installation according to the invention. A double chain 9 is trained over a pair of upper and lower pulleys Ill and H. The trays are suspended from and between the chains by being attached at the keyhole slots 1 to headed members i2 carried by the chains. One of the wheels l0, Ii may be driven by a motor or other suitable means. The articles displayed in the respective trays, being balanced by the bars 8 in the manner set forth maintain a. steady position on the trays notwithstanding the movement of the latter with the chains.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is:

1. A tray comprising a frame having separate goods and counter-balance supporting means, means for suspending the frame in a medial bisecting plane to turn about an axis above said supporting means, and a counter-balance slidable on said counter-balance supporting means perpendicularly to said plane.

2. A tray comprising a frame having sides,

' means for suspending the frame in a medial bisecting plane, a pair of flanges extending from opposite sides of said tray'and perpendicularly to said plane, and a counter-balance bar slidable in said pairs of flanges.

4 bisecting plane, a pair of flanges extending froni opposite sides of said tray and perpendicularly to said plane, and a counter-balance bar slidable in said pairs of flanges, and a panel supported on the upper flanges.

7. A display tray comprising a frame havin side portions, a merchandise supporting platform mounted on said frame, apair of suspension posts having their lower ends respectivelyconnected to the central portions of two opposed side por- 3. A tray comprising a frame having sides and"; i tions of said frame, and an adjustable counterseparate goods and counter-balance supporting,

means, posts extending upwardly from the midtransversely to a plane perpendicular to said points of opposite sides thereof, and a counter-" balance slidable on said counter-balance supporting means transversely of said posts.

4. A tray comprising a frame having sidesr; posts extending upwardly from the midpoints of opposite sides thereof, flanges extending ln-i 20 file of u be me, Date 536,574 v Linkletter Mar. 26, 1895 25 1, ,37 c e n 19 .2. 1,281,105 Unger Oct. 8, 191 8; 1,587,713 Franzen June a, 19 2 FOREIGN PATENTS H ,0 Number .Country I -Date'f balance supported by said frame for adjustment platform and intersecting the latter along a line extending between said central portions. 1 7 JOSEPH EDGAR'BOUCHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the this patent:

I UNITED STATES- PATENTS 

